Hundreds of ex-agitators in the Niger Delta have rescinded their decision to partake in the proposed hardship protest, saying promoters of the event have unconstitutional motives.
The ex-agitators, who rose from an emergency meeting on Wednesday in Yenagoa resolved to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
They insisted that the President should be given more time to resolve all the problems afflicting the country.
Their position is contained in a communique by National Secretary of First Phase Ex-agitators, Mr Nature Kieghe.
The position to abstain from any form of protest was endorsed by ex-militant leaders in Niger Delta region, national leaders of concern Niger Delta Ex-Agitators.
Others are, National leaders Niger Delta Movement for Good Governance, ex-freedom fighters of the Niger Delta region, Coalition of Niger Delta Students and Coalition of Aggrieved Niger Delta Youths.
Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders at the meeting, Kieghe said though protest was the right of the people, any such event with the motive of destabilising the country to bring about anarchy should be resisted by all..
Kieghe condemned the demand for change of government by the promoters, saying it revealed that the entire objective was not to demand good governance, but to violently try to take over power.
He said: “In democracy that we practise, there is no room for anarchy; the only way the government can be changed is through an election.
“When one election cycle closes and you fail to actualise your political ambition, you need to wait for another election cycle to try again.
“Therefore, election remains the only constitutionally accepted means of replacing any government, it is not by protest. As ex-agitators, we won’t join a protest already designed to cause violence.
“We still have confidence in the capacity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reposition this country.
“He is barely one year in office and we have resolved to give him more time to allow the gains of his policies and programmes permeate the nooks and crannies of this country.
“If after his tenure we fail to see significant progress, then we will return to take another decision ahead of the 2027 election.
“We make bold to declare that the subsisting leadership cannot be changed unless there is an election. What they are trying to achieve is mutiny, coup and it has no place in democracy,” Kieghe said.